The leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada have issued a joint statement strongly condemning Israel’s continued military escalation in Gaza and warning of potential further measures should the Netanyahu government fail to halt operations and allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
The statement, released on 19 May by the Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street, with the endorsement of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, presents a coordinated Western rebuke of Israeli policy in both Gaza and the West Bank.
The three leaders denounced what they described as “wholly inadequate” efforts by Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, referring to the announcement of limited food aid access as insufficient. They demanded a full cessation of military operations and immediate coordination with the United Nations to enable the delivery of aid in accordance with international humanitarian standards.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” the statement reads, describing the ongoing military campaign as “wholly disproportionate”. The leaders emphasised the necessity for Israel to comply with International Humanitarian Law, asserting that the denial of essential aid to civilians “risks breaching” these legal standards.
The statement also addressed the conduct and rhetoric of Israeli officials. It condemned recent language by members of the Israeli government, which was interpreted as encouraging forced displacement of Palestinians, calling such actions a violation of international law. “Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law,” it stated.
While reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack, the leaders drew a clear line between legitimate self-defence and what they characterised as excessive force. They called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas since the October assault, but stressed that such acts do not justify the scale or duration of the Israeli military response.
Significantly, the leaders of the UK, France and Canada warned that failure by Israel to reverse course would prompt further concrete measures. “We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions,” the statement continued. “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”
The three nations also addressed the situation in the West Bank, condemning Israeli settlement expansion. “We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.” They warned that they are prepared to impose targeted sanctions if such policies continue.
Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire were also highlighted, with the leaders expressing strong support for the negotiations being led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. These talks are aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and establishing a political framework that would remove Hamas from control of Gaza.
According to the joint declaration, the international conference scheduled for 18 June in New York—co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia—will play a critical role in advancing a two-state solution. “These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution,” the statement read.
The leaders pledged continued engagement with the Palestinian Authority and regional stakeholders to determine a future governance structure for Gaza, building on an existing Arab-led framework. The statement reaffirmed support for the High-level Two-State Solution Conference at the United Nations in June, aimed at building international consensus on Palestinian statehood.
Crucially, the joint statement includes a formal commitment to the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of broader efforts to implement a two-state solution. “We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end,” the leaders declared.
The declaration marks one of the strongest multilateral critiques of Israel’s current military policy in Gaza by major Western governments. It follows increasing international scrutiny over the humanitarian impact of the conflict, as well as internal political pressures within the signatory countries to respond more decisively.
The statement does not specify the nature of the potential “concrete actions” or sanctions under consideration but signals a growing readiness among key allies to shift from rhetorical pressure to punitive measures, should the current trajectory persist.
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